What Is Life Like for the Crown Princess of Japan?

Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria and Princess Madeleinedazzled at the Nobel Prize–giving ceremony in Oslo yesterday. Though the morning's pomp was devoted to Barack Obama's Peace Prize and much-analyzed acceptance speech, the Swedish royal family took center stage as they dolled out the remaining Nobel prizes. The royal sisters (and brides-to-be) looked stunning—Victoria donned a deep purple gown and six-button tiara, while the always striking Madeleine opted for a gown of green silk and black lace. Both princesses and their mother, Queen Silvia, were decked out in an array of jaw-dropping diamond tiaras, while the men of the family—King Carl XVI Gustaf and only son Prince Carl Philip—kept it simple and stately in white tie.Following her 46th birthday this week, Japan's troubled Crown Princess Masako vowed to continue efforts to overcome her stress disorder. "Under the guidance of my doctor, I have been doing my best, step-by-step, to regain my health, mentally and physically," the Princess announced in an official statement. Before marrying into the Japanese royal family, in 1993, the Princess, then Masako Owada, was a decidedly modern career woman. Since wedding Crown Prince Naruhito, she's had difficulty adjusting to the rigid, conservative lifestyle enforced by the Japanese Imperial Household. According to some reports, in an effort to have the Princess focus her attentions on conceiving a male heir, court officials have limited her travel and restricted phone use. She gave birth to a daughter, Princess Toshi, in 2001 and in recent months has made more public appearances, which supporters interpret as a sign of improvement.